In the moment

Once when I was about 12 years old I had this weird experience, well not weird but really hard to define. I was running through a path in the bush, dodging tree branches and jumping over logs and tree roots and just feeling like I could jump as high as the treetops and run as long as I wanted to without ever getting tired. After I stopped running I went and got a drink of water and had this moment where I think I fully appreciated how amazing it was that my body was like a machine in the way that all the parts worked together and was capable of doing all of these things, like carry me through the bush on a path full of obstacles. I am not really doing this moment justice, it's really hard to explain, but I think it was the first time I remember feeling so alive and young and healthy. I'm sure everyone has had experiences where you are almost outside yourself when you execute a technique perfectly or throw that amazing side kick that just feels so effortless and you think wow! It was kind of like that. This summer I have had more and more times when I have these moments. And just now writing this blog entry I think I've realized why. (hey, journaling is good) I am living in the moment so much more than I ever have been. I think it goes where am I? what am I doing?. Might sound familiar to a few people. I have learned how to focus on what I am doing right now and it has made me appreciate the smallest things, and to recognize them for the gift that they are.

Waffle

Summer is coming to an end and although it makes me sad I think getting back into the school year routine will be good for me. I have managed to keep up with my requirements for most of the summer, but august, with all the vacation and time away from the kwoon has made me lazy. I am going to be looking for work since my summer employment will be over soon. I'm really apprehensive about it, I haven't had to really apply for a job since before I had kids, which is about 9 years now. I have been lucky enough to have opportunitys fall in front of me. I always thought that by the time my youngest was in school full time that I would have decided what I wanted to do with the rest of my life career wise. Do I want to go to school, or just work wherever? and if I do go to school, I don't even know what I want to do. Over the years I have forced myself to be decisive because I tend to waffle and then miss out on things because I never got around to making up my mind. Huge waste of time. But here I am waffling. The only thing I am sure of is I don't want to wish I had done something else with my life.

Shock to the system

Just got back from the big family vacation, it was really nice. It was weird to be away from kung fu for so long, but once your back it's like you never left. One thing about being away is the punishment your body takes when you get back. Eating badly plus no exercise equals pain in the end. It also equals lesson learned (if I was smart, which I wasn't.) So you know the first class back will be brutal and it was. It was a crazy workout which was good, but my legs still feel weak tonight and I know they will be sore tomorrow. What doesn't kill me makes me stronger right?

Pushups in weird places, and strange forms of conditioning

I have been away from the kwoon a lot lately, due to prior obligations and holidays with the family. It's been really weird, I think this is the most time I've ever been away from class. It does make it more of a challenge to get going on doing my pushups, situps and forms. I've been doing my pushups on the beach, in the trailer, at the park, even in peoples bathrooms. It's been interesting. My Internet has been sketchy too, I keep getting kicked off, so I better write fast.
The horse running went well, I did what I was supposed to, and made it out of it with only a few injuries. I got kicked by foal a few times so I've got some bruises, but hey, what martial arts student isn't covered in bruises? It was funny, during the mare inspection I'm running the horse around and her foal goes a bit crazy running past us, bucking and kicking, (which was how I got kicked) So I catch a stray hoof in the stomach, but hey, how many times have I been kicked in the stomach? Someone commented later about how they would have been in a heap on the ground and my boss says, oh she's a karate girl... of course everyone that knows I'm in martial arts thinks it's karate for some reason. It was kind of funny anyway, and it was true, my conditioning definitely saved me that time.
So the challenge this week is to do all my requirements while travelling, should be fun.

blaahg... I mean blog

I find the blogging requirement painful sometimes... as I'm sure do a lot of others. I am leaving for a few days so I have to blog now, and the inspiration has not struck me.
I have been doing something called running horses lately. I am running or being the handler for a few horses that my employers are taking for judging this week coming. Basically my job is to show off the horse to it's best advantage. I walk and run the horse around to show off to the judges. Hopefully the horse gets a good score and is then more desirable for breeding etc. Running in an arena full of loose dirt is really hard on the legs. More so because your controlling a horse with one hand and you've got a whip your supposed to hide in the other. It's strange to run without your arms doing what they always do. Well, it will all be over on the 5th and my legs can recover. Hoping to not injure myself somehow before then.